Electric curling iron

ABSTRACT

Disclosed therein is an electric curling iron. The electric curling iron includes: a body part; a heating rod arranged at a side of the body part and having a heat ray heater disposed therein; an upper handle and a lower handle hinge-coupled on a hinge shaft formed at the other side of the body part, the upper and lower handles being movable in a tong shape; and an upper pressing member and a lower pressing member whose end portions are respectively overlapped and hinge-coupled to front ends of the inner faces of the upper and lower handles, the upper and lower pressing members respectively having a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the heating rod, wherein the upper and lower pressing members are opened wider than the upper and lower handles, so that a user can rapidly and convenient do hair styling.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0075504 (filed on Aug. 17, 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electric curling iron, and more particularly, to an electric curling iron which can straighten or curl hair.

2. Background Art

In general, a curling iron is one of hair styling tools to change a user's hair style in various ways and make hair beautiful, and includes: a heater mounted therein for generating heat; and tongs for straighten hair and a roll brush for creating waves in the hair when heat is transferred from the heater.

When the heater is heated, the user makes his or her hair good while winding the hair on the curling iron or straightening the hair with the curling iron after spraying a hair styling solution or water on the hair.

There are many prior arts of the curling iron as follows.

Korean Patent No. 10-0539586 (hereinafter, called “the prior art 1”) discloses an electric curling iron that can straighten or curl hair. In Korean Patent No. 10-0539586, the electric curling iron includes: a handle having an electric current supply switch; a first heating member joined to one end portion of the handle and having a flat surface and a curved surface formed in a longitudinal direction, the first heating member generating heat according to switching motions; a second heating member rotatably joined to one end portion of the handle and getting in surface contact with the flat surface of the first heating member, the second heating member generating heat according to switching motions; a corrugated portion formed on the outer side surface of the second heating member in the longitudinal direction; a second curling member rotatably mounted on the second heating member and interlocked with the corrugated portion of the second heating member; and a first curling member rotatably joined to the first heating member and getting in surface contact with the curved surface of the first heating member.

Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0187536 (hereinafter, called “the prior art 2”) discloses a hair iron for making hair in various styles, and includes: a heating rod that has a winding face formed along a circumferential direction of the hair iron in such a fashion that hair is wound thereon and a heating member that is mounted in the iron to heat the winding face, so that hair wound on the winding face can be heated; a hair fixing member joined on a rotational shaft formed at a side of the heating rod in such a way as to be separated from the winding face, the hair fixing member fixing the hair on the winding face; and at least one spiral guide member detachably joined to the circumference of the heating rod and extending along a radial direction of the heating rod, the spiral guide member having a guide rib formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction to wind the hair in the spiral shape.

However, in the case of the prior art 1, the hair can be wound on the first heating member only once because an angle of the first curling member separated from the first heating member is small and an operation space of the first curling member is too narrow. So, in order to curl the hair, the electric curling iron must be rotated repeatedly in a state where the hair is wound on the first heating member. But, it has a problem in that the electric curling iron is not easy in manipulation and it takes too much time to curl the hair.

Meanwhile, the hair iron according to the prior art 2 also has the same problem as the prior art 1 because an angle formed between the hair fixing member and the heating member is too small. Furthermore, the hair iron has other problems in that the hair is easily uncurled and it is difficult to create a wanted hair style because the hair fixing member is formed only at one side of the heating member.

Accordingly, the curling irons according to the prior arts may cause occupational diseases, such as muscle pain or neuralgia, to hairdressers or hairstylists, who work on their feet for a long time, because the curling irons need lots of power on hands, arms and shoulders, and require much time to do hair styling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric curling iron, which is widely opened by pressing members hinge-coupled to a handle, thereby securing a sufficient operation space.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric curling iron, which includes a foldable heating rod to provide convenience in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electric curling iron, which includes at least one moisture release groove to release moisture existing on hair to the outside.

To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an electric curling iron including: a body part; a heating rod arranged at a side of the body part and having a heat ray heater disposed therein; an upper handle and a lower handle hinge-coupled on a hinge shaft formed at the other side of the body part, the upper and lower handles being movable in a tong shape; and an upper pressing member and a lower pressing member whose end portions are respectively overlapped and hinge-coupled to front ends of the inner faces of the upper and lower handles, the upper and lower pressing members respectively having a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the heating rod, wherein the upper and lower pressing members are opened wider than the upper and lower handles.

Here, end portions of one side of the upper pressing member and the lower pressing member may be connected with each other by an elastic member.

Moreover, the upper pressing member and the lower pressing member respectively further may include heat ray heaters mounted therein.

Furthermore, the heating rod is mounted at one side of the body part, may be slidably moved by a connection part inserted into the body part, may be drawn in and out in multiple stages by a retaining protrusion that is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connection part and retained to at least one retaining hole formed on the body part in a longitudinal direction, and may be drawn out from the upper and lower pressing members in a state where the upper and lower handles are compressed.

Additionally, the electric curling iron further may include a spring disposed at the connection part between the heating rod and the body part.

In addition, the heating rod may include at least one moisture release groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof in the longitudinal direction.

As described above, the electric curling iron according to the present invention can reduce the operation period of time because the operation space is as wide as the user can wind the hair several times at a time.

Moreover, the electric curling iron according to the present invention can prevent the user from having diseases, such as muscle pain or neuralgia, because the user can do hair styling without rotating the curling iron.

Furthermore, the electric curling iron is convenient in manipulation and can prevent a damage of the hair by high temperature of steam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric curling iron according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the electric curling iron of FIG. 1 is compressed;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a connection position of a spring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electric curling iron according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a heating rod of FIG. 4 is drawn out;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the electric curling iron of FIG. 4 is compressed; and

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a modification of the connection position of the spring of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail in such a fashion that those skilled in the art can easily carry out. The example embodiments of the present invention are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, but it should be understood that there is no intent to limit the example embodiments of the present invention to the particular forms disclosed. Additionally, in order to clarify the present invention, parts that have no relationship to description of the present invention will be omitted, and similar parts have similar reference numerals in this specification.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric curling iron according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the electric curling iron of FIG. 1 is compressed, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a connection position of a spring of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric curling iron 100 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body part 160, a heating rod 150, an upper handle 110, a lower handle 120, an upper pressing member 130, and a lower pressing member 140.

The body part 160 serves as a central shaft of the electric curling iron 100, and includes: a switch 163 for turning on and off a power supply; and a temperature controlling part 162 for controlling temperature of the heating rod 150. In this instance, the switch 163 and the temperature controlling part 162 are not essential parts of the present invention and may be removed if necessary.

The heating rod 150 is mounted at one side of the body part 160 and has a heat ray heater (not shown) arranged inside the heating rod 150. The heat ray heater receives electricity from the outside through a cable (not shown) connected to the inside of the body part 160 to heat the heating rod 150. Here, the heating rod 150 may be made of metallic material with good thermal conductivity so that the heating rod 150 can easily reach high temperature. For instance, aluminum or aluminum alloy may be a material for the heating rod 150 due to its excellent thermal conductivity.

The upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120 respectively have one end portion, which is joined to a hinge shaft 180 mounted on the other side of the body part 160, and the other end portion, which is movable in a tong shape. In this instance, the inner circumferences of the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120 correspond to the outer circumference of the body part 160, so that they can surround and lie on the body part 160 when being compressed.

The upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 compress the heating rod 150 at both sides to thereby create waves on the hair wound on the heating rod 150. For this, the inner circumferences of the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 correspond to the outer circumference of the heating rod 150.

The upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 are hinge-coupled by hinges 111 and 121 in a state where end portions of the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 are overlapped on the front ends of the inner faces of the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120. Accordingly, an angle formed when the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 are opened to the maximum is wider than an angle formed between the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120, and hence, a space necessary for winding or hairstyling the hair on the heating rod 150 can be secured sufficiently.

Accordingly, in order to curl the hair, even though the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 are opened to the maximum and the pressing members 130 and 140 are compressed only once using the handles 110 and 120 in a state where the hair is wound on the heating rod 150 several times, uniform curl can be created. That is, differently from the prior arts, a user can curl the hair without rotation of the electric curling iron 100.

In this instance, the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 may be connected with each other at their end portions by an elastic member 170, so that they can be automatically opened or compressed by the user's pressing action on the upper and lower handles 110 and 120.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, elastic member fixing parts 131 and 141 disposed at end portions of one side of the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 are connected with each other by the elastic member 170, so that the other side of the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 can be opened on the hinges 111 and 121. In this instance, if necessary, it is possible to control the angle between the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 by controlling elasticity of the elastic member 170.

The elastic member 170 may be a coil spring, but it is not restricted to the coil spring, and any member which can elastically collect the end portions of one side of the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 may be used.

In the meantime, the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 may also respectively include heat ray heaters mounted therein. The heat ray heater heats the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 by electricity supplied through the cable connected to the inside of the body part 160. For this, the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 may be made of metallic material, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, which is lightweight and has good thermal conductivity.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electric curling iron according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a heating rod of FIG. 4 is drawn out, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the electric curling iron of FIG. 4 is compressed, and FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a modification of the connection position of the spring of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the electric curling iron 200 according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, like the electric curling iron 100 according to the first preferred embodiment, includes a body part 160, a heating rod 150, an upper handle 110, a lower handle 120, an upper pressing member 130, and a lower pressing member 140. In this instance, a mounting structure of the heating rod 150 is different from that of the first preferred embodiment.

The body part 160 serves as a central shaft of the electric curling iron 100, and includes: a switch 163 for turning on and off a power supply; and a temperature controlling part 162 for controlling temperature of the heating rod 150. In this instance, the switch 163 and the temperature controlling part 162 are not essential parts of the present invention and may be removed if necessary.

The heating rod 150 is mounted at one'side of the body part 160 and has a heat ray heater (not shown) arranged inside the heating rod 150. The heat ray heater receives electricity from the outside through a cable (not shown) connected to the inside of the body part 160 to heat the heating rod 150. Here, the heating rod 150 may be made of metallic material with good thermal conductivity so that the heating rod 150 can easily reach high temperature. For instance, aluminum or aluminum alloy may be a material for the heating rod 150 due to its excellent thermal conductivity.

The heating rod 150 is foldable.

Concretely, the heating rod 150 includes a bar-shaped connection part 153 disposed at one side thereof, and is slidably moved by the connection part 153 inserted into and drawn out from the body part 160.

The sliding action of the heating rod 150 is limited when a press-type retaining protrusion 152 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connection part 153 is retained to a retaining hole 161 formed in the body part 160. At least one retaining hole 161 is formed in the body part 160 in a longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals, so that insertion and drawing out of the heating rod 150 can be controlled in multiple stages, whereby the electric curling iron has an advantage in use and keeping.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to wind the long hair on the heating rod 150, the user draws out the heating rod 150, winds the long hair on the protruding portion of the heating rod 150 protruding from the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 in a state where the upper and lower handles 110 and 120 are compressed, and then, pushes the heating rod 150 inwardly, so that the user can curl the long hair near the scalp in safety.

In this instance, a spring 172 is mounted at the connection part 153 exposed between the heating rod 150 and the body part 160, so that the user can easily manipulate the heating rod 150. That is, when the user presses the retaining protrusion 152 in a state where the heating rod 150 is pressed and fixed in the direction of the body part 160, the heating rod 150 is automatically drawn out by elasticity of the spring 172.

Meanwhile, the heating rod 150 may include at least one moisture release groove 151 formed on the outer circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, when the hair is wound on the heating rod 150 and the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 are compressed, even though moisture exists on the hair, the remaining moisture is released out along the moisture release groove 151 to thereby prevent steam of high temperature from being generated. Accordingly, the curling iron of the present invention can minimize a damage of the hair by the steam of high temperature or a drier.

Continuously, the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120 respectively have one end portion, which is joined to a hinge shaft 180 mounted on the other side of the body part 160, and the other end portion, which is movable in a tong shape. In this instance, the inner circumferences of the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120 correspond to the outer circumference of the body part 160, so that they can surround and lie on the body part 160 when being compressed.

The upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 are hinge-coupled by hinges 111 and 121 in a state where end portions of the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 are overlapped on the front ends of the inner faces of the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120. Accordingly, an angle formed between the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 is wider than an angle formed between the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120, and hence, a space necessary for winding or hairstyling the hair on the heating rod 150 can be secured sufficiently.

Here, the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 respectively include elastic member fixing parts 131 and 141 that are disposed at end portions of one side thereof connected with each other by the elastic member 170, so that the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 can be automatically opened and compressed by pressing motions of the upper handle 110 and the lower handle 120. In this instance, if necessary, it is possible to control the angle between the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 by controlling elasticity of the elastic member 170.

In the present invention, the elastic member 170 is a coil spring, but it is not restricted to the coil spring, and any member which can elastically collect the end portions of one side of the upper and lower pressing members 130 and 140 may be used.

In the meantime, the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 may also respectively include heat ray heaters mounted therein. The heat ray heater heats the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 by electricity supplied through the cable connected to the inside of the body part 160. For this, the upper pressing member 130 and the lower pressing member 140 may be made of metallic material, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, which is lightweight and has good thermal conductivity.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the embodiments without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present invention.

For instance, the connection position of the spring 170 may be changed in various ways. Namely, as shown in FIG. 7, the spring 170 may be arranged in such a way as to connect the elastic member fixing parts 131 and 141 and elastic member fixing parts 122 (not shown) disposed inside the upper and lower handles 110 and 120 with each other.

Accordingly, it should be understood that the example embodiments described in this specification do not represent all technical ideas and scopes of the present invention, and that example embodiments of the invention are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. An electric curling iron comprising: a body part; a heating rod arranged at a side of the body part and having a heat ray heater disposed therein; an upper handle and a lower handle hinge-coupled on a hinge shaft formed at the other side of the body part, the upper and lower handles being movable in a tong shape; and an upper pressing member and a lower pressing member whose end portions are respectively overlapped and hinge-coupled to front ends of the inner faces of the upper and lower handles, the upper and lower pressing members respectively having a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the heating rod, wherein the upper and lower pressing members are opened wider than the upper and lower handles.
 2. The electric curling iron according to claim 1, wherein end portions of one side of the upper pressing member and the lower pressing member are connected with each other by an elastic member.
 3. The electric curling iron according to claim 1, wherein the upper pressing member and the lower pressing member respectively comprise heat ray heaters mounted therein.
 4. The electric curling iron according to claim 1, wherein the heating rod is mounted at one side of the body part, is slidably moved by a connection part inserted into the body part, is drawn in and out in multiple stages by a retaining protrusion that is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connection part and retained to at least one retaining hole formed on the body part in a longitudinal direction, and is drawn out from the upper and lower pressing members in a state where the upper and lower handles are compressed.
 5. The electric curling iron according to claim 4, further comprising: a spring disposed at the connection part between the heating rod and the body part.
 6. The electric curling iron according to claim 1, wherein the heating rod comprises at least one moisture release groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof in the longitudinal direction.
 7. The electric curling iron according to claim 4, wherein the heating rod comprises at least one moisture release groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof in the longitudinal direction.
 8. The electric curling iron according to claim 5, wherein the heating rod comprises at least one moisture release groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof in the longitudinal direction. 